Related Stories

Kashif Moore is a speedster, a football burner who is looking forward to next Tuesday’s pre-season opener against Winnipeg.

He joined the Argos late last season, a time that allowed him some exposure to the Toronto offence. He was at the team’s Florida camp last month and was an early arrival to this year’s main camp.

He’s a receiver who can line up in the return game, excited at the opportunity and grateful to the Boatmen — but now more is being asked of Moore.

“Kashif has some talents, but he’s making too many mental mistakes,’’ said head coach Scott Milanovich.

“He’s one of the guys who needs to show he can be trusted to be where he’s supposed to be and do what he’s supposed to do.

“He has enough talent. He has to get into his book.”

Moore says he’s past that stage where he’s thinking, allowing his instincts and skills to take over.

“It’s going well,’’ he said of camp. “We’re installing a lot plays and I’m trying to come out and play fast. It’s all about speed every time I’m out here.”

A SMALL RAY OF LIGHT

Ricky Ray’s return date remains the biggest question mark surrounding the Toronto Argonauts, a team that will only go as far as its play from the quarterback position.

The Double Blue weren’t good enough last season, ultimately falling short of the post-season when they lost control of their destiny and then watched as the hometown Ticats beat the Als in the season finale.

Ray made the most of a roster decimated by injuries, especially at the receiver slot, his play not as efficient as in previous years — but given the cards he was dealt he still managed to represent the East as its most outstanding player.

Eventually, Ray will return, but no one knows when as he continues to strengthen his shoulder following off-season surgery.

On Thursday, there was an encouraging moment with Ray throwing along the sideline for an extended stretch.

“Definitely today (Thursday) was a positive day,’’ said Ray, a class act who will one day be enshrined in the CFL’s Hall of Fame.

In terms of clerical duties, the Boatmen would move Ray to their active roster, though no one should read anything into that.

Technically, Ray can now practise with the Argos, but there’s no way he’s going to line up under centre because his arm isn’t sufficiently strong enough to handle the burden of throwing the football, which is, needless to say, important given the position he plays.

Ray is on a throwing program and he’s basically following that plan, but the keys remain his strength and rehab.

“The shoulder is still a little bit weak,’’ he said. “I got to get it stronger. We’ve been working hard this week and I feel I’ve been getting the results from it.”

There are still so many unknowns about Ray, but the Argos aren’t going to rush him back and they aren’t going to compromise his health.

If the most prudent move is to have Ray start the season — which begins on June 27 when the Argos play host to the Edmonton Eskimos in Fort McMurray — on the six-game injured list, so be it.

The CFL season is too long and history has shown that the team capable of going on a late-season run often is best positioned for post-season success.

The Argos begin by playing five on the road and it’s very much up in the air if Ray will appear in any of them.

As long as improvement is made in how Ray’s shoulder reacts and responds to throwing the football, the better the Argos will be when he does return.

“I threw a little bit more,’’ said Ray of his Thursday’s session. “It felt better than it has the first few times. I’m making progress, which is a good thing.

“I still have a ways to go.”

The Argos, who open the pre-season schedule next Tuesday when Winnipeg comes to town for a date at Varsity, are beginning to pick up their intensity at training camp, players realizing how an actual game, albeit a pre-season affair, is drawing closer.

As the pre-season awaits, cuts will soon follow and there’s not much of an opportunity in the CFL when only two exhibition games are played.

The defence continues to play better than the offence, where Milanovich admits he’s installed what he terms a very difficult scheme designed to expose those players who can readily adopt and adjust and learn.

No matter how athletic or explosive a player lines up on offence, in the Argos system it’s all about attention to detail, lining up properly, depths and splits and carrying out their responsibilities.

“Some guys are falling, some guys are rising,’’ said Milanovich when asked to characterize Toronto’s receiving stable. “Next week will tell us a lot. They are all trying.

“It’s the fourth day (Thursday marked the fourth full practice day in camp) and it should start to make sense. Tuesday (versus the Blue Bombers) will be a big night for a lot of these guys.”